VIF Neighbourhood News Digest: May 19, 2022

Afghanistan

The Taliban in Afghanistan Mediates Ceasefire Between Pakistan and Pakistani Taliban: The Khaama Press

The Pakistani Taliban, also known as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has been responsible for some of Pakistan’s deadliest operations since 2007. TTP is not directly associated with the Afghan Taliban, but pledges allegiance to them. Click here to read... [2]

Outstanding Debt Hit $100M: Afghanistan Energy: The Khaama Press

While the current leadership struggles to shape political and economic crisis in the country, the Ministry of Energy and Water (MoEW) said Afghanistan owes more than $100 million for electricity imported from neighboring nations. Click here to read... [3]

US DoD Expects Kabul's Restrictions on Al-Qaeda to 'Loosen': Tolo News

The US CENTCOM’s assessment is that the Islamic Emirate will likely loosen restrictions on al-Qaeda over the next 12 to 24 months and will allow al-Qaeda greater freedom of movement and the “ability to train, travel, and potentially re-establish an external operations capability,” according to report given to the US Congress. Click here to read... [4]

Interior Ministry Cracks Down on Human Trafficking to Iran: Tolo News

Many young people said they are struggling with severe economic conditions, and this crackdown will only cause more problems. Mohammad Nabi, a resident of Kapisa, and his family came to Nimruz province and are living in a small hotel. Click here to read... [5]

Bangladesh

High commodity prices, foreign currency shortage due to war in some countries: Health Minister- The Daily Star

Health Minister Zahid Maleque yesterday (May 18, 2022) said the commodity prices went up and a shortage of foreign currency was seen due to war in some countries in the world. Click here to read... [6]

Bangladesh-US co-op: Monitoring may begin in July- The Daily Star

Bangladesh and the US will form a monitoring mechanism to address the challenges and pending issues as the two countries are working on deepening their ties on multiple fronts. Click here to read... [7]

BNP has a history of rigging polls- The Daily Star

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said the BNP has no right now to raise question about elections as it has a history of tainted polls. Click here to read... [8]

Tripura plans to bring food, fuel using Ctg port after rail link snapped over Assam floods- The Daily Star

India's Tripura state government plans to bring food and fuel by using Chittagong port in Bangladesh in view of the possible shortage of the essentials following the snapping of railway links in the ongoing flood and landslips in Assam, an official said today (May 18, 2022). Click here to read... [9]

Bhutan

Bhutan discovers 54 new species in a decade: Kuensel Online

In the past decade, 54 new species to science from eight biodiversity taxonomies were discovered in the country. The National Biodiversity Centre (NBC) recorded new plants, snails, dragonflies, fish, beetles, stoneflies, moths, and aphids between 2010 to 2020. Click here to read... [10]

Maldives

‘India Out’ supporters take to the streets after arrest of leaders: The Sun

Supporters of the ‘India Out’ movement have taken to the streets after the arrest of former Hoarafushi MP Mohamed Ismail and an additional person on suspicion of involvement in the movement. Click here to read... [11]

Myanmar

Military-Owned Corporation Fails to Pay Dividends to Myanmar Troops - The Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s military regime has not been able to make dividend payments from its businesses since the 2021 coup. The regime is more than seven months in arrears in paying dividends from the military-owned Myanma Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL), according to military personnel. Click here to read... [12]

Ten Junta Soldiers Killed in Upper Myanmar Mine Attacks - The Irrawaddy

Around ten Myanmar junta soldiers were killed on Wednesday in a mine attack in Sagaing Region’s Tigyaing Township. On Wednesday morning, an alliance of local resistance groups ambushed the regime troops with three mines while they were traveling between Kyat Ta Kaung Village and Pay Kone Village, on the eastern banks of the Ayeyarwady River. Click here to read... [13]

Myanmar Junta Tightens Security in Commercial Capital Yangon - The Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s military regime is beefing up security measures in the country’s business hub Yangon amid rumors that it is trying to wipe out the city’s urban resistance groups, whose guerrilla attacks continue to inflict casualties on junta troops. Click here to read... [13]

Myanmar’s Shadow Govt Calls on Int’l Community to Arm Resistance - The Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government (NUG) has urged the international community to provide arms to its forces fighting against the country’s military regime. The shadow government’s Defense Ministry said it has between 80,000 and 100,000 PDF troops under its command and uses 80 percent of its budget to support them but “can’t fully cover them all.” Click here to read... [14]

An uneasy truce is under threat in Myanmar’s Rakhine state - RFA

Tensions between Myanmar’s military and the Arakan Army (AA) insurgent group are rising in the restive western state of Rakhine, although an uneasy ceasefire remains in effect for now, residents in the area told RFA. Click here to read... [15]

Fighting reported across southern Sagaing amid junta ‘clearance operations’ - Myanmar Now

Multiple clashes have been reported in many parts of southern Sagaing Region in recent days as the military continues to carry out “clearance operations” that it began earlier this month. Click here to read... [16]

Nepal

House debates budgetary principles and priorities- The Himalayan Times

Lawmakers who took part in the debate on the government's budgetary principles and priorities in the House of Representatives have urged the government to include robust and comprehensive plan to make Nepal's economy self-reliant and to focus on industrialisation and mechanisation of agriculture.c
https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/house-debates-budgetary-principles-and-priorities" target="_blank">Click here to read...

WHO to help reduce premature mortality- The Himalayan Times

The World Health Organisation South-East Asia Region has reiterated its commitment to support all countries, including Nepal, in this region to reduce premature mortality due to non-communicable diseases by one third by 2030 – the Sustainable Development Goal target – and to engage and empower people of all ages to live longer, healthier lives. Click here to read... [17]

NC wins four local levels, MC two in Dadeldhura- The Himalayan Times

Of the seven local levels in Dadeldhura, results of six local levels have been made public. According to the results released by officials, Nepali Congress has won key posts in four local levels, while Maoist Centre emerged victorious in two others. Click here to read... [18]

Pakistan

Islamabad looking to Kabul to help check terror, says Bilawal: Dawn

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has said that Islamabad is looking to the Taliban regime in Afghanistan to play its role in discouraging the increase in terrorist activity on Pakistan’s side of the border. Click here to read... [19]

With 6% growth rate, Pakistan’s economic size jumps to $383 billion: The Express Tribune

Fueled by imports and consumption, Pakistan’s economic growth rate accelerated to 6% during the last year of Imran Khan’s government – the highest pace in four years – helping to increase the size of the nation’s economy to $383 billion besides jacking up per-capita income. Click here to read... [20]

Ready for ‘reforms’, Pakistan tells IMF: The News

Pakistan has conveyed its willingness to the IMF negotiation team that it will take 'tough measures' such as hike in the POL products and electricity prices but in a phase-wise approach for reviving the stalled $6 billion fund programme. Click here to read... [21]

Editorial: To be or not to be: Dawn

The allies have formally communicated that they expect to see the unity government remain in power and complete legal, electoral and accountability reforms before the next general elections are announced. However, though their commitment to providing support throughout should give the PML-N some confidence, that is unlikely to make things any easier for it. This is perhaps the reason why the government reportedly also wants the military establishment involved. Click here to read... [22]

Sri Lanka

India seeks to win public trust in crisis-hit Sri Lanka: BBC

While popular perception indicated China had outpaced India, the recent economic and political turmoil in Sri Lanka seems to have given India's foreign policy a fresh lease of life in the island nation. Click here to read... [23]

Sri Lanka misses ADB payment, PM tells Parliament: Economic Times

The ADB as well as the World Bank had just promised around 160 million each to Sri Lanka, Wickremesinghe said, but the loan from the Manila-based lender was blocked. Click here to read... [24]

Sri Lanka can’t find cash to pay even one ship for petrol: Times of India

Sri Lanka asked citizens not to queue for gasoline as the nation on the verge of default has no dollars to pay for a fuel shipment. “There is a petrol ship in our waters,” energy minister Kanchana Wijesekera told parliament Wednesday. “We do not have the forex.” Click here to read... [25]

Sri Lanka war anniversary: Tamil victims remembered in Colombo: The Hindu

Scores of people on Wednesday gathered in Mullivaikkal village, in Sri Lanka’s northern Mullaitivu district, to remember the tens of thousands of Tamil civilians who were brutally killed in the final stages of the civil war in May 2009, when the armed forces crushed the LTTE. Click here to read... [26]